Visa Offers Opportunity to Win a Trip to Olympic Winter Games for Life

January 5, 2010 at 9:03 AM EST
U.S. Cardholders Automatically Entered for Chance to Win When Paying with Visa
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 05, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In a first of its kind promotion, Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), a worldwide Olympic Games sponsor for more than two decades, today announced that it will award one winner a trip to the Olympic Winter Games for life. From Jan. 1 - Feb. 28, 2010, Visa cardholders in the United States will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip to the Olympic Winter Games for the rest of their lives when they use their Visa card. The Visa Olympic Winter Games Trip for Life Sweepstakes is part of the company's comprehensive Olympic-themed marketing campaign for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The global campaign also includes Olympic-themed advertising - Go World - usage promotions and host market merchant activation programs that enable Visa to connect with cardholders and Olympic and Paralympic Games fans to drive preference for and usage of Visa products worldwide.

"For more than two decades Visa has used its relationship with the Olympic Games to bring fans closer to the Games and the athletes competing," said Antonio Lucio, Chief Marketing Officer of Visa Inc. "This promotion is a first for any Olympic partner and gives one winner the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the emotions and unforgettable moments that happen at every Olympic Winter Games."

Every four years beginning with the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, one grand prize winner of the Visa Olympic Winter Games Trip for Life Sweepstakes and one guest will receive round-trip airfare and accommodations for two, round-trip event transportation, and tickets to Olympic events. Official rules are available at www.visa.com/goworld. No purchase or obligation necessary to enter or win. Winner will be selected in March.

"I've been to many Olympic Games in my career, as a competitor and spectator, and there is nothing in the world that compares to experiencing the Games firsthand, watching athletes achieve their dreams and witnessing fans coming together to cheer on their accomplishments," said Dan Jansen, 1994 Olympic gold medalist and the focus of a new Go World commercial that debuted on January 3. The spot recounts one of the most unforgettable moments in Olympic history as Dan Jansen overcame the death of his sister, Jane, at the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games and went on to win a gold medal at the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games. He celebrated the emotional win by taking his daughter, Jane, for a celebratory lap around the speedskating track in memory of his sister who originally inspired him to take up the sport.

Visa has been a worldwide Olympic Games sponsor since 1986 and is the exclusive payment card and official payment network of the Olympic Games.

Editors Note

To view the latest Visa Go World commercials, visit www.visa.com/goworld. To view and download Visa Olympic images, videos and assets, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visa or www.visa.com/olympics.

About Visa

Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world's most advanced processing networks--VisaNet--that is capable of handling more than 10,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as "will," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "plans" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about future operations, prospects, plans and objectives of management and events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur. The forward-looking statements reflect Visa's current views and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual and future results and trends to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to Visa's ability to achieve its strategic objectives; general market conditions; uncertainties inherent in operating internationally; and the impact of law and regulations. Many of these factors are beyond Visa's ability to control or predict. Given these factors, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Visa

Visa USA
Nancy Panter, 650-432-1454
npanter@visa.com
or
Fleishman-Hillard
Dianna Mangiantini, 415-318-4182
dianna.mangiantini@fleishman.com